Therapeutic vibrator



March 1941- w. L. WETTLAUFER 2. 5

THERAPEUTIC VIBRATOR Filed May 11, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 liq- JNVENTOR w/m'am L. (eff/afar ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 18, 1941 PATENT OFFICE THERAPEUTIC YIBBATOR William L. Wettla'ufer, Buffalo, N. Y.

. Application May 11, 1939, Serial No. 272,981

7 Claim.

This invention relates to a mechanical therapeutic device in the form of a vibratory stool.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a vibratory exercising device which may be sufficiently flexible in adimtment to meet the various and exacting demands of skilled surgeons and doctors in their treatment of the numerous illnesses which respond to such treatment. The structures of the invention include a novel split seat portion which'is given a controlled type and rate of vibration through a novel mounting ments. The range of adiustments includes the choice of operation of either or both sides of the seat, a control of the phasing of the relative operation of both sides, and a pneumatic adjustment by means of which the severity of the vibrations may be dampened.

Other features of the invention are more fully set forth in the accompanying specification and drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 8-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side view of one of the motor shafts showing the adjustable centrifugal clutch;-

Fig. 5 is an end view of the shaft of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the stool body showing one of the pneumatic supports positioned thereon.

The stool comprises a base II which serves to support a pair of vibratory platforms or seats ll, Ila. The base is preferably formed of separable sections I2 and II, the uppermost section l2 having a shouldered extremity M which his in interlocking relation with the top of the section l3. This structure permits the device to be used as illustrated, for treatments where the patient is seated, or for standing or other treatments, where the lower section II is removed to reduce the elevation of the platforms H, I la.

The platform I l, Ila, except for being of opposite hands, are of similar structure, having top portions l5, lid and integral depending portions 10, led. The portions I), No are slotted, as indicated by the numeral 11, to receive foot rests ill for sliding movement. .Straps ll affixed to the lower extremities of the depending portions serve as stops which are engaged by lugs 2| on the upper ends of the foot-rests (Fig. 3). When the device is used as a standing platform, the foot rests may be telescoped within the slots H to an unobstructive position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig, 3.

The platforms are resiliently supported on a pair of rubber tubes 22 which are carried in transverse sockets 23 in the underlying base section I 2 (Figs. 3 and 6). The platforms are also formed with shallow tube-receiving sockets 23a. Common extremities of the tubes .22 are fitted with inflation valves 28, and, to provid access thereto. the side of the platform H is notched, as indicated by the numerals 28 (Fig. 1).

Each platform is firmly pressed down upon the supporting tubes 22 by four tension springs 21, the upper ends of such springs being carried in ilttings 2| secured to the lower side of the platforms. Spaced beams 28 are mounted transversely in the lower portions of the base section l2, and they carry eyebolts ll, to which the lower extremities of the springs 21 are secured.

The platform ll, Ha are supplied with similar individual motive units SI, Illa, consisting of transversely positioned electric motors II secured to the lower side of the platforms. The motors are of the double end shaft type. The shafts carry flywheels 34, 34a, each fitted with a counterweight It will be observed that the counterweights on each pair of flywheels are disposed in aligned relation to provide reaction devices for causing the transmittal of vibratory forces to the mass of .the motor and accompanying platform.

The motors II are controlled by a. switch 38 (Fig. 4

l) which may be of a four-position type to provide for selective operation of either motor or of both motors.

It is desired when both motors are in operation that they be forced to run in synchronism, in order that the reaction of the counter-weights may occur in perfect phase. To accomplish this object, a centrifugal coupling is provided to connect the units for synchronous operation. As shown in Fig. 3, the inner flywheel of the unit 30 carries an arm 38 which is mounted for swingin: movement on a stud 39. The arm is formed with a lug 40 which engages a stop pin 4| when the arm is thrown to a radial position by centrifugal force. A light leaf spring 42 is secured to a boss 41 on the flywheel I4, and such spring engaga a cam surface 40a on the lug and tends to retain the arm in either its radial or angular position. The end of the arm 38 is formed with an angular extension 44.

The motive unit "a is supplied with a similar clutch element, which element however is radially adjustable. The motor shaft illb of this unit (Figs. 4 and 5) is hollow, and it carries a rod 45 having a bracket 48 secured to its left hand extremity. The bracket is formed with a boss 41 spring 58 is interposed between the knobs 55 and 56, and it continually urges the rod and accompanying paraphernalia to the right.

The inner flywheel 34a is formed with a plu- 5 rality of holes 50a wherein the pin portion 50 may be selectively engaged .by depressing the knob 55 and turning the knob until the proper hole is entered. It will now be understood that the centrifugal arm 36a of the unit 30a may be w adjusted to several angular positions relative to the flywheel counterweights of that unit.

In operation, when both units are started the centrifugal arms 38, 38a rapidly assume a radial position where their extensions 44, a may engage, and thus enforce synchronous rotation of the motors. Assuming that the clutch element is adjusted, as shown in. Fig. 5, then it will be apparent that the counterwei'ghts of both units will be aligned during rotation, and,- as a result, the

platforms Ii, Ila will be actuated in perfect unison.

The switch 36 may be turned while both units are in operation to stop one of the units. During this change the deenergized motor immediately starts to decelerate, and thus to throw a greater load on its centrifugal arm than it is capable of withstanding. This arm therefore is forced in- Ward by the contacting arm of the remaining unit, and the units are accordingly disengaged. It will be understood that the exceedingly light load of the centrifugally held arms is sufiicient to retain the engaged motors in coupled relation, since their'natural tendency is to operate in such manner, but any greater load is suificient to I break the coupling.

When it is desired to operate the platforms in an out-of-phase relation, the adjustable centrifugal element of the unit 30a is simply turned to the desired position. For example, if the element is turned 180 degrees from the position of Fig. 5, then when the clutch engages in dual operation, the counterweights of one unit will be spaced 180 degrees from those of the remaining unit. The result will be a staggered operation of the platforms ii, Ha, wherein one will be rising while the other will be depressed.

It will be observed that the pneumatic supports 22 of the platforms i I, Ila are suitably positioned to afford relatively free movement in vertical and horizontal directions, but toresist or to prevent lateral or angular movement. The reaction of the motive force thus will result in a high speed uniform harmonic movement of the platform in small circles having approximately a horizontal axis. This type of movement has been found to produce the best results in the treatment of allments which respond to vibratory treatment, since the gentle but rapid action in vertical circles reproduces in some phases the stimulation of a natural exercise, such as Walking, without the violent reaction on specialized groups of muscles. The adjustment of the machine, as afforded by the control switch 36, permits the treatment of either side of the body, while the phase adjustment permits the choice of uniform body motion or various degrees of staggered movement which are beneficial in specialized cases. It will be noted also that the severity of the vibrations may be considerably modified by varying the air pressure in the pneumatic supports 22.

70 It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the structure herein disclosed without departing from the inventive concept.

I claim:

1. A therapeutic vibrator comprising a base, a pair of adjacent seats resiliently carried by the 5 base, an electric motor mounted under each seat, each motor having an eccentrically located weight carried by its shaft, and a coupling for said motor shafts comprising a centrifugally operated clutch element on each shaft, said ele- 1U ments being movable into engagement with each other upon operation of said motors.

2. A therapeutic vibrator comprising a base, a pair of adjacent seats resiliently carried by the base, an electric motor mounted under each seat, 15 each motor having an eccentrically located weight carried by its shaft, and a coupling for said motor shafts comprising a centrifugally operated clutch on each shaft, said elements being movable into engagement with each other upon 20 operation of said'motors, and means for adjusting one of said elements radially with respect to its associated counterweight.

3. A therapeutic vibrator comprising a base, a pair of adjacent seats resiliently carried by the 2 base, an electric motor mounted under each seat, said motors being of the double end shaft type and each motor shaft carrying a pair of flywheels, an eccentrically located counterweight carried by each flywheel, and centrifugal means for coupling said shafts upon rotation thereof.

4. A therapeutic vibrator comprising a base, a pair of adjacent seats resiliently carried by the base, an electric motor mounted under each seat, said motors being disposed in axial alignment, an eccentrically loaded flywheel carried by each motor shaft, and centrifugal means on the flywheels for coupling said shafts uponrotation thereof.

5. A therapeutic vibrator comprising a base, a pair of adjacent'seats resiliently carried by the base, one end of each seat having an integral depending extension, a foot rest on the extremity of each extension, an electric motor mounted under each seat, each motor having an eccentrically loaded flywheel carried by its shaft, and means for coupling said shafts for synchronous rotation.

6. A therapeutic vibratorcomprising a base having upper portions thereof formed with a pair of spaced parallel socket portions, an elongated cylindrical rubber tube mounted in each socket portion of the base, a seat having similarly spaced 50 socket portions formed in, its lower surface, said seat being positioned with the seat socket portions engaging the tubes, means for holding the seat against upward displacement from the tubes including a resilient connection between the seat and base, and a motor-driven vibratory element carried by said seat.

'7. A therapeutic vibrator comprising a base having upper portions thereof formed with a pair of spaced parallel socket portions, an elongated 60 cylindrical closed tube mounted in each socket portion of the base, inflation valve means on each tube, a seat having similarly spaced socket portions formed in its lower surface, said seat being positioned with the seat socket portions engaging 65 the tubes, means for holding the seat against upward displacement from the tubes including a resilient connection between the seat and base, and a motor-driven vibratory element carried by said seat.

WILLIAM L. WETTLAUFER. 

